Bismarck weekly tribune., 1887-05-13
THE NORTHWEST
Most encouraging Crop Prospects
for Dakota, Iowa and
Minnesota.
The Wheat Acreage of Dakota In.
cre'tsed 100000 Acres Over
Last Year.
The Most Favorable Seed Time in
Dakota and Minnesota for
Many Years.
Undoubtedly Reliable.

Undoubtedly Reliable.
ST. PAUL, May n.-Crop reports from
sixty counties in Minnesota, forty in Da-
kota and thirty-five in Iowa, show that
seeding throughout the northwest is now
completed and under the circumstances is
more favorable than in many previous sea-
sons FIR many years. In Dakota very
heavy snow fell during the winter and
went off slowly this spring, leaving the
moisture to soak into the ground, putting
it in excellent condition to receive the
seed. In addition to the heavy SHOWS in
Minnesota, several timely rains put the
ground in excellent condition before seed
ing was begun. With the exception of
one or two storms in the latter part of
April. work was uninterrupted from
the beginning to the close. The
bulk of seeding in Minnesota and Dakota
was finished a little earlier than last year.
There may be yet few unsown fields in
the northern portion of the state where the
ground is unfavorably located. but the
crop as whole is safely in the ground.
Fair weather only is needed to produce
another magnificent crop of wheat, and il
present indications hold good, barring, of
course, all accidents of weather, the crops
harvested next fall will eclipse anything
ever produced in Minnesota and Dakota.
Reports show simply the actual condition
Of the ground at seeding time and the
prospect for crops, leaving the weather
out of the question. The acreage in Min
nesota last year, as reported by the agri-
cultural department., was 9,067,851 acres,
with an average of 1879 bushels per acre,
making total crop of 42,256,000 bushels.
The increase in the state this year will
probably amount to 5per cent, or about
1750O0 acres. In Dakota, the governmentre-
turns show 2675,S8O acres, averaging 11.4
bushels per acre, giving an aggregate OF
3O,7O4,OOO bushels. The increase in the
acreage this year will probably be as high
as 10 per cent, or about 405, 900 acres. TAX
ing into consideration the more favorable
condition of the ground at seeding time
and with average yield, Dakota will prob
ably raise over 25,OOO,OOO bushels this year.
So, with anything like favorable weather
from now till harvest, the total yield of
Minnesota and Dakota combined, will ag
gregate between 8OOOO,O0O and 100000
bushels. Government estimates have al
ways been below the actual returns as
made by assessors. In Minnesota in 1885.
the government placed the yield at "a OOO.-
600 bushels, while the yield as returned by
assessors was over Al 600, 900 bushels, show
ing that the agricultural department was
only off about 20 per cent. There is a large
increase in acreage of corn, oats and bar
ley and marked decrease in that of flax, es
pecially in Dakota. In Iowa seeding was
usual and reports are unanimous as to the
excellent condition of the ground. Ac-
cording to reports received from the more
important counties, there is decrease in
the acreage of wheat in many places, ow
ing to the low prices last year and the fear
of chinch bugs. There appears to be very
little wheat back in farmers hands, al
though in southern Minnesota, especially
in the older counties, farmers appear to
their bins. The small increase in the ac E.
age in Minnesota is due largely to summer
following and the fact that many
farmers are devOting more at
tention to stock raising, but the
low prices last year was also an important
factor. The increase in the wheat acreage
in Dakota is largely due to the failure of
the flax crop last year and new breaking.
There were only three counties reporting
worth county, Dakota, it is estimated 1t is
estimated that there will be $1,000 acres
planted to wheat, against $4,000 acres last
year. Other counties in the vicinity report
a corresponding increase. The acreage of
corn. oats and Barley in Dakota this year
is much greater than ever before, many
counties reporting fully so per cent.